A Hampshire stalwart for over 18 years, John Arnold played a single
Test for England early in his career. In 1931 he was selected to open
the batting against New Zealand in just his second full season in the
absence of Hobbs and Sutcliffe, but a modest performance led to a
return to the county ranks. Arnold usually opened, but often dropped
down the order for Hampshire, and was by nature an aggressive bat,
particularly strong on the leg side, but also a good driver. He
represented his country in soccer, and used his speed to good effect
in the field. The vagaries of form led him to adopt a more defensive
approach in the middle part of his career, but after a break for the
Second World War he reverted to his former style with considerable
success. Originally from Oxford he moved to Hampshire, and after
qualification rarely was out of the county side. He made over 21,000
runs and 37 centuries for the county until retirement was forced upon
him by illness. He later became a first-class umpire (DL, 2000).